Security, good governance key to RECCA-VI success: experts

KABUL (RECCA) as a huge achievement for Afghanistan, analysts on Saturday said an effective administration and committed government could benefit from the pledges made at the conference.

Delegates from 30 countries and national and international organizations took part in the two-day RECCA-VI summit concluded on Friday in Kabul.

President Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai and Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani, who addressed the summit, stressed cooperation among regional countries in areas of energy, natural resources and trade.

Titled The Silk Road through Afghanistan, the summit participants insisted Afghanistan still needed regional cooperation for its development and security.

The main purpose of the conference was to expand economic cooperation and materialising joint regional mega projects.

Saifuddin Saihon, a lecturer at the Kabul University, said the government of Afghanistan should properly discharge its responsibilities outlined at the RECCA-VI summit.

He said the government should ensure security, attract foreign investment and provide the ground for Asian Development Bank (ADB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF)-funded projects in the country.

According to Saihon, security, good governance, eradication of poppy, rule of law and public support were main factors that could help make economic activities a success in Afghanistan.

He said the successful conduct of RECCA- VI was a clear message to the enemy of Afghanistan that the international community was still with Afghanistan and would continue to support the war-torn country.

He said the RECCA-VI could prove beneficial for geo-economic development and adopting best entrepreneurship methods and enhanced trade between central and south Asian nations.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the conference discussed issues including regional connectivity, energy, natural resources, improving the private sector, support to Afghanistan and better business climate.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Foreign Minister Hikmat Khalil Karzai said they would discuss projects concerning Afghanistan’s development and regional connectivity and how to utilise the opportunities in hand.

Taj Mohammad Akbar, another economic analyst, said there was no legal issue halting implementation of the ambitious trans-Afghanistan projects, but illegal activities such as lawlessness, corruption and unemployment might threaten the execution of these projects.

He said the current Afghan Cabinet was weak than the previous one under former president Hamid Karzai.

In addition, he said the current government was unable to remove corruption, dismantle mafia groups, prevent land-grabbing and resist strong influence of warlords.

The analyst, however, said the summit goals could be achieved if good governance was ensured and honest people were appointed to government positions.

nh/ma

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